KU ranked No. 2 in most published special education journal articles

LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas ranks second in institutions that have expanded the field of knowledge in special education and helped guide teachers across the nation. Science Watch recently rated KU No. 2 for most published journal articles in the field of special education, an important indicator of a school’s contribution to the field.

Science Watch calculated special education papers published in journals indexed by Thomson Reuters from 2005-09. Of the 4,222 total papers published in that time frame, KU researchers authored 119, or 2.82 percent. Vanderbilt University was ranked first with 127 papers published, or 3.01 percent. The University of Texas-Austin, University of Wisconsin-Madison and Louisiana State University rounded out the top five.

“The special education faculty members have been leaders in the field internationally for decades,” said Rick Ginsberg, dean of the School of Education. “The Science Watch analysis is just one of many indicators underscoring that recognition. Along with significant grant funding and preparing students who go on to significant careers, the KU Department of Special Education continues to make strong contributions to the field.

“The analysis alone, however, doesn’t capture the full benefit that research at KU has had on the field of special education,” Ginsberg added. “Schools and districts across the country and the world teach and mentor children using practices developed and tested by KU faculty members. We look forward to continued impact by KU faculty members in all the specializations within special education.”

The Science Watch ranking is another recent acknowledgment of the Department of Special Education’s success. U.S. News and World Report has regularly ranked KU’s special education masters program number one in the nation among public institutions and has named KU No. 1 overall in eight of the past 15 years.

“Publishing papers in peer-reviewed journals is a vital measure of academic success,” said Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little. “This ranking indicates our special education faculty members are meeting their responsibility to broaden the scope of knowledge in their discipline. They have contributed a great deal of scholarship that will help guide educators, researchers and students in the future.”

Science Watch is a division of Thomson Reuters, an information and technology firm that serves financial, legal, tax and accounting, healthcare, science and media organizations.